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    Wth is wrong with my machine/How to do factory reset on M17xR3?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by jackfsc2, Aug 24, 2011.

  1. jackfsc2

    jackfsc2 Notebook Geek

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    After having trouble installing the latest dell nvidia drivers, i decided to do a factory reset and try again.

    Alienrespawn isn't working, theres an error each time I try to open it.
    Mcafee isn't working, so I tried uninstalling it, didn't help.
    At this point I assumed its some kind of malware and I tried installing different antivirus/malware removal programs but wont install until mcafee is uninstalled completely.
    Now trying to manually factory reset from the start up and there is no "Recovery" or "Factory Reset" option from the F12 menu.

    Does anyone have any idea how to FIX this or whatever the problem may be?
     
    jackfsc2, Aug 24, 2011
    #1
  2. jackfsc2

    jackfsc2 Notebook Geek

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    I'm having trouble finding how to do a factory reset on my machine. F2 and F12 options at start up dont lead to any factory reset.

    I'm told that a "recovery" option is in the F12 boot options menu, but I do not see it at all.

    Is there another way to do a factory reset? Am I doing something wrong?

    Please help!
     
    jackfsc2, Aug 24, 2011
    #2
  3. bar-code

    bar-code Notebook Evangelist

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    Just before windows loads it the F8 key you will find recovery there
     
    bar-code, Aug 24, 2011
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  4. jackfsc2

    jackfsc2 Notebook Geek

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    f8 key doesn't bring up anything for me, tried 3 times

    On the bottom right, theres F2 for setup and F12 for boot options. I cant find a recovery or factory reset option anywhere.
     
    jackfsc2, Aug 24, 2011
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  5. bar-code

    bar-code Notebook Evangelist

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    Its f8 the timing is critical you have to get it right. Soon as your bar loads with the alienware logo just keep pressing f8 non stop till it pops up
     
    bar-code, Aug 24, 2011
    #5
  6. BatBoy

    BatBoy Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    jack, I've merged your threads since the you have posted the same q is multiple threads (crossposting).

    For AlienRespawn (yes, I know you mentioned an error - placing this here as a reference for others):

    1. Open AlienRespawn you'll find it in your Start Menu (C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\AlienRespawn)
    2. Select the RESTORE Option
    3. Confirm the restore by selecting RESTART
    4. Follow the on-screen prompts (you can opt to backup new files or just restore to the factory image without saving a copy of changed files - I suggest just going with the 'restore without save' option)

    Done. :)

    Note: If you have wiped your drive and performed a clean install, you wont be able to use AlienRespawn with major hoop jumping. This is why its critical you always create your AlienRespawn Rescue Media before performing a clean install of W7. See this thread for additional information -
    http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...k-drive-aftermarket-drive-alienrespawn-q.html

    -----------------

    What is the error message?

    -
     

    Attached Files:

    BatBoy, Aug 24, 2011
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  7. qohelet

    qohelet Senior Member

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    Did yOu by any chance deleted the recovery partition on your stock drive? If you did, then factory reset won't work.
     
    qohelet, Aug 24, 2011
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  8. Brabostaan

    Brabostaan Notebook Deity

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    Just clean install and be done with it.

    Do not use Mc afee its garbage.
     
    Brabostaan, Aug 24, 2011
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  9. qohelet

    qohelet Senior Member

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    LOL. Agreed :D
     
    qohelet, Aug 24, 2011
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  10. jackfsc2

    jackfsc2 Notebook Geek

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    Thanks, F8 finally worked after i spammed it once I got to the boot up screen. I'm factory resetting the laptop now.

    For Alienrespawn, as soon as I opened it, it said something about launch application error? I don't remember the exact message, but it wasn't opening. TBH I never even got a pop up message to make a backup when I first started the computer, which I got with my previous r3. I remember that annoying popup, but I haven't gotten it on this machine. Hopefully everything is fixed with this reset.

    Thanks everyone for your help. Sorry for making so many threads, I was panicking a bit.
     
    jackfsc2, Aug 24, 2011
    #10